Those recent controversies surrounding the Dixie Chicks may not have hit their record sales, but it may yet prove to have an impact on their live revenues.
As everyone knows, the Dixie Chicks suffered a backlash among their natural fan base in the US in 2003 when the group's Natalie Maines made comments criticising the foreign policy of George Bush during a concert in London. Despite initially retracting those comments, Maines has subsequently reaffirmed her negative opinions of the current US President.
With much of their traditional fan base coming from pro-Bush Republican communities, and with many radio stations in those communities boycotting their music, there were fears that there would be a considerable sales slump when the girls released their new album 'Taking The Long Way'. However, while US sales of that album were down on previous long player 'Home', they still shifted over half a million units in first week of release, making the LP one of the best selling albums of the year so far.
However, sales of tickets for their upcoming Accidents & Accusations tour are reportedly going less well, with rumours circulating that several dates are likely to be cancelled or postponed as a result. Billboard reports that most shows in the 20-plus Arena tour have so far shifted just a third of the available tickets, or less in some 'secondary markets'. A planned Memphis date has reportedly been pulled because of ticket sale concerns, while cancellations of shows in Indianapolis, Houston and Oklahoma City are also reportedly being considered. Some venues are reporting healthy ticket sales, but certainly the overall picture does not compare well with the girls 2003 tour when 867,000 tickets were sold on the first weekend they were available, with additional shows being added in many markets.
Of course the Dixie Chicks have also taken something of a different musical direction with their latest album, which might also explain the reluctance of their traditional fan base to splash out on concert tickets - that is to say, it might not all be about the politics. Though that said, in Toronto, where one would assume Maines' anti-Bush remarks would have got a more receptive response, their show is a sell out and a second date has been added to meet demand.